Spiced hummingbird cake
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Spiced hummingbird cake

By Esther Clark

This showstopping celebration cake tastes of summer, with pineapple and banana flavours, tangy cream cheese frosting and delicate edible flowers

  • Prep:30 mins
    Cook:45 mins
    Plus cooling
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 628
  • fat 39g
  • saturates 11g
  • carbs 61g
  • sugars 41g
  • fibre 2g
  • protein 6g
  • salt 0.8g

Ingredients

  • 225ml vegetable oil, plus extra for the tins
  • 300g self-raising flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 300g golden caster sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 cardamom pods, cracked open and seeds finely crushed
  • whole nutmeg, for grating
  • 2 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 3 medium eggs, beaten
  • 150g pineapple chunks, from a can, drained and chopped
  • 80g pecans, finely chopped
  • 200g full-fat soft cheese
  • 150g softened, unsalted butter
  • 80g runny honey
  • 80g icing sugar
  • 1 large orange, zested
  • edible flowers and dried pineapple rings, to decorate (optional)

Tip

Edible flowers

Edible flowers are now available in some supermarkets, or find them easily online at farmdrop.com.

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil two 20cm, loose-bottomed cake tins and line the bottom of each one with baking parchment.

  2. Sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl, and add 1/2 tsp salt and the baking powder. Stir through the sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and a very good grating of nutmeg. In a separate bowl, whisk the mashed bananas through the eggs and oil until well combined. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and tip in the wet mixture. Fold everything together until combined, then mix through the pineapple and pecans. Spoon the mixture into the tins and bake in the centre of the oven for 35-45 mins or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tins for about 10 mins before transferring to a wire rack to cool down completely.

  3. Meanwhile, put the soft cheese, softened butter, honey and sugar into a mixing bowl and beat together until just combined. Try not to overbeat the mixture or it will become too soft and runny. Chill for 30 mins in the fridge before using.

  4. Put one of the cakes on a serving plate and spread with half the icing. Top with the other cake and smooth over the remaining icing. Finish with shavings of orange zest, edible flowers and dried pineapple rings, if you like. Will keep in an airtight container for up to three days.

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